Davis played football at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina.
In 1970, Chuck Noll's second year as head coach, Davis replaced Larry Gagner and started all 14 games.
From 1970 to 1979, he played next to left offensive tackle Jon Kolb and the two went on to win four Super Bowl rings together with the Steelers (Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV).
On September 10, 2019, at approximately 6:50 am, Davis, aged 75, was reported missing from the New Life Care Personal Home in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Later that evening, authorities announced that Davis was found deceased inside of the facility.